“… is not aggressive” – this is a comment that you hear often in the corporate world. While I can understand aggression being something required of a army man or a boxer, why should an employee in a company be expected to be aggressive?

To me, aggression carries a negative connotation. When a person is aggressive, that means he is concerned only about an end goal, irrespective about the means to get there.

Folks who consider themselves “aggressive” invariably assume that they are way ahead of everybody else. From there it is a short step to becoming arrogant (which is easily done once they get some power).

One of the best managers that I have worked under was a model of assertiveness – and one of his best quotes is “Never think that the other person is a fool.”

What do you feel? Is it better to be aggressive or assertive? And, who succeeds in the corporate world?

Many people in Business & Corporate world expect their team members to be “aggressive”. I feel that most of them mean this only from a positive angle without understanding the meaning of ‘aggressive’.

But, as far as I understand, “aggressive” means “Do something great by hurting others”. For example, a health drink company does “an aggressive marketing” of their product by talking cheap about their competitor’s product. I’m sure that this company’s sales will improve. But the way in which it is done – will not be appreciated by ‘respectable wise people’.

Some are ’submissive’ – meaning they will not highlight themselves in front of others. Sometimes others may takeaway the credit from these submissive persons. These people will be shut by ‘aggressive’ persons. Submissive persons don’t want to hurt anyone at anytime.

Very few are ‘assertive’ – meaning they will talk when there is a need, they will get credit for their work and give credit for others’ work, they will be kind towards ’submissive person’ and assertive towards ‘aggressive person’. They will achieve what they want without hurting anyone. They also understand that when they provide a honest feedback to others, they will be hurt temporarily, but in the long run they will feel good about the feedback.

What do you want to call yourself – “Aggressive” or “Submissive” or “Assertive”?